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<br />Historical Perspectives on Colorado Drought <br /> <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />written before the effects uflhe 2002 drought were fully realized. the points <br />summarized within the document, and reproduced below, do provide useful insight <br />into the implications of drought in Colorado. <br /> <br />The list in Table 8 reflects the state's primary economic concerns regarding drought <br />in the spring of2002. There arc, however. other economic sectors and other water <br />uses that arc impacted as well. <br /> <br />Economic impacts of drought on Colorado tourism and agriculture <br />30,2002 Office of State Planning and Budgeting Memorandum <br /> <br />Table 8 <br />from the Apri <br /> <br />Economic impacts of drought on Colorado tourism <br />Tourism and agriculture are the two primary sectors in Colorado's economy thaI win be <br />negatively impacted by the drouqht <br /> <br />T aurism spending injects approximately $8.5 billion into Colorado's economy and comprises <br />eiQht percent of the state's work foree. <br /> <br />5 percent decline <br /> <br />sales and a <br /> <br />ticket <br /> <br />The 1977 drought caused a 40 percent decline in ski lift <br />in emplovment althe ski areas. <br /> <br />revenue from tourism, a <br /> <br />$550 million in tax <br />from the drought <br /> <br />State and local government receive approximately <br />portion of which is at risk from a decline in tourism <br /> <br />on Colorado agriculture <br />force and comprises 3.5 percent <br /> <br />increased in Colorado while farm <br /> <br />Economic impacts of drought <br />lovs 3.9 percenl of <br /> <br />- <br />waQes <br /> <br />01 <br /> <br />work <br /> <br />In the 1977 drought the inventory of livestock actually <br />income from crops onlv declined 2.8 Dercent. <br /> <br />major <br /> <br />To provide a more general overview of the ways in which drought may impact <br />Colorado, we turn to McKee el al. (2000), who elaborate on some of the state's <br />water demands. First and foremost among water users is irrigated agriculture. <br />Although recent years have seen the anival of new types of crops, more drought- <br />resistant crops, and advanced irrigation techniques, fanners still face many negative <br />consequences of drought. "Dryland" crops such as winter wheat are particularly <br />susceptible to damage as a result of short droughts during the growing season. Other <br />water demands subject to the possible wrath of drought include: <br /> <br />and industrial water supplies (note that approximately 50% or <br />walt.'r is used for watering lawns and landscape during the <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />fishing, boating) <br /> <br />rafting, <br /> <br />municipal <br />municipal <br />summer): <br />recreation, in both the summer (white-water <br />winter (skiing) seasons: <br />forests and environmental uses; <br />(4) hydropower. <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />(1) <br /> <br />(2) <br />(3) <br />(4) <br /> <br />Page 27 <br /> <br />HOR Engineering, Inc. <br />Printed on 30% post-coosumer recycled content paper <br /> <br /> <br />the state's <br /> <br />Aqriculture em <br />